The Hidden

by Tobias Hill

Were the Spartans heroes or villains? Ancient tribal loyalties and rituals are echoed here in modern day Greece. Unresolved recent political troubles resurface amongst a group of young archaeologists digging the site of ancient Sparta, when a newcomer seeks to join their apparently charmed circle. This is a slow-burning fuse of a plot, about terrorism, ending in an explosion of horror.

Extract

- What do we think of Sparta then, now we've found their accomplishments? I bet Helen was proud of them. How many are there down there, do you reckon? You'd think they might have guessed they were doing something wrong after the first dozen-
- Don't be ridiculous. Medicines are poisonous, it's in their nature. To judge between the dose that heals and that which harms is incredibly hard. People misjudge that now. Look at the Victorians-
- Who cares about the Victorians? I didn't come here because I look up to the Victorians. What I'm saying, all this time, here we were, worshipping at the feet of Sparta, following in the footsteps of Sparta - that is what we were doing - digging for the glorious accomplishments of Sparta. And here they are, and they're horrors. Eh? So much for fucking Sparta!